Question

Identify at least one rhetorical device (anaphora, aphorism, etc.) used in the speech and explain why it’s used.

Answer 1

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. 
The repetition of the words "Last night Japanese forces attacked..." in four successive sentences is an example of anaphora. This is a literary device in which the first part of a sentence is deliberately repeated, for artistic or rhetorical effect. President Roosevelt could have just started with "Last night" and used commas when listing the various places that were attacked. However, he wanted to make a clear point and emphasize to his listeners the seriousness of the situation, Hence his use of parallel sentences to drive his message home.